League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA May 3, 2011 Election
	Measure A Parcel Tax John Swett Unified School District 2/3 Approval Required See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Arguments Against Measure A

Measure A will guarantee funding for Rodeo Hills Elementary, Carquinez Middle, and John Swett and Willlow High Schools for academic programs such as math, science, reading and writing, music, computer technology, and art. Additionally, this funding will support student learning by helping to keep school libraries open, minimizing future class size increases and retaining highly qualified teachers. By law, Measure A funds can only be used to improve our neighborhood schools and cannot be taken by the State and spent elsewhere. Measure A will: Maintain and improve core academics such as math, science, reading and writing Help keep school libraries open Minimize future class size increases Retain highly qualified teachers Maintain or improve student access to classroom computers and technology Maintain and improve arts, music and band programs Maintain extracurricular activities and after school sports programs Measure A protects taxpayers and will: Expire after four years Provide for a senior citizens exemption Ensure that local industry be required to pay its fair share Require that all funds be spent locally Prohibit funds from being taken by the State and spent elsewhere Establish a citizen's oversight committee to ensure funds are spent as promised Require that funds be used for classroom academics and not administrative salaries. Our local schools are our community's most important asset and number one priority. Measure A deserves our support. Top quality teachers, strong academic programs and community support have kept our schools strong. Now, we need your support more than ever. Strong schools build strong communities. Please join us in working to uphold the quality of our schools by voting YES ON MEASURE A! Dan A. Robertson Richard L. Zampa Retired Iron Worker Ridge D. Greene President - Port Costa Conservation Society Randi Pence Rodeo Resident Duane Colombo Retired Educator Rebuttal to Arguments For We've heard all this before. Measure A supporters are making the same promises they made when Crockett and Rodeo voters approved a $20 million school bond three years ago -- promises that still haven't been kept. When voters approved the bond, Measure A supporters promised the money would be used for "a new library, expanded classrooms, new science, computer, music and arts facilities, improved athletic facilities including a synthetic playing field, an all weather track, and an expansion of the gym." But now three years later, the only promise delivered is a new football field. In fact, the school board still has $17 million in bond money left to spend. But instead of using this money to finish the job, the board is pushing Measure A to raise local property taxes by another $4 million -- a tax increase Crockett and Rodeo voters have rejected FIVE times. Measure A supporters "promise" this new tax will only be temporary, but how many "temporary" taxes ever really end? Of course we all want quality schools for our children. But before asking taxpayers to sacrifice even more, the school board should invest the $17 million it already has to build a new library, expand classrooms and provide new science, computer, music and arts facilities -- just like it promised it would do. First honor the promise, then ask for more. In a tough economy when families and businesses are suffering, this is the fiscally responsible -- and honest -- thing to do. Jim Gray, Rodeo Resident Laura Stephenson, Crockett Resident Orvil Sanford, Crockett Resident Paula P. Williams, Rodeo Resident Veronica Sherrod, Rodeo Resident

When will our elected officials get the message? Crockett and Rodeo taxpayers have already rejected proposals like Measure A five times. Just last November, voters defeated a similar tax-hike proposal, telling the school board to spend the $17 million it already has before asking voters for millions more. But now the school board is back again, spending $50,000 on a special election in May, when they hope to sneak this new property tax increase past voters who aren't paying attention. This is money that should be spent educating our students, not wasted on another political election to raise taxes -- especially since these higher taxes have been rejected by our community many times before. We all want safe and clean schools for our children, but Measure A isn't the answer. Voters approved a $20 million bond three years ago to fix John Swett High School -- and the school board still has $17 million of that money to finish the job. So why are they asking for another $4 million in higher property taxes during one of the worst recessions in California history? Measure A is the last thing we can afford right now, when jobs are being lost, families are suffering and local businesses are closing. Local governments throughout California are tightening their belts and cutting waste, not asking for more. They know this isn't the time to raise taxes and increase spending. The school board should pay attention. Common sense says the school board should fix the school as promised, using the $17 million voters have already approved, then ask taxpayers for more for more funding. Help restore fiscal responsibility by voting "NO" on Measure A. Jim Gray, Rodeo Resident Laura Stephenson, Crockett Resident Orvil Sanford, Crockett Resident Paula P. Williams, Rodeo Resident Veronica Sherrod, Rodeo Resident Rebuttal to Arguments Against The communities of John Swett USD are special, known for strong families and a deep commitment to their children. But without strong schools, the strength of our communities is threatened. Last fall, a majority of citizens (54%) voted to pass Measure J, a parcel tax to improve our children's education. But in California, such measures require two-thirds approval allowing the minority to overrule the majority. Worse still, the opposition + funded almost entirely by ConocoPhillips+ decided to mislead and scare voters by claiming that the District was hiding millions of dollars. The facts. In November 2008, 74% of District voters approved a $20 million bond to rehabilitate John Swett High. (Go to the District's web site and read the Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee report for more information.) By law, these bond funds can ONLY be used to make school buildings safe for our children + not to improve academic programs. The opponents of Measure A know this is true! So why do they continue to spread lies that the District is hiding money? Simple. ConocoPhillips wants to avoid paying their fair share to improve our children's education. So don't be fooled by half-truths and clever slogans. Quality schools are the cornerstone of our communities. Citizens and businesses have all benefited from past generations' investment in our schools. Now, it's our turn to stand up and demand our children receive the education they deserve. Vote YES on Measure A. John Swett Education Foundation John Swett High School PTA Marianne J. Clark, Vice President Joe Tarin Retired Union Rep. Operating Engineer #3 John Swett Education Foundation Beverly Hill, President Howard Adams Treasurer for John Swett Education Foundation Secretary for Rodeo Hills PTA Tiffany Pence

Full Text of Measure A

INTRODUCTION To maintain academic programs including math, science, reading, writing, music, art, and computer technology and retain teachers and other staff, except administrators, at Rodeo Hills Elementary, Carquinez Middle and John Swett and Willow High Schools; shall John Swett Unified School District levy a special tax of $60 per parcel for four years, except industrial/commercial parcels levied at $0.0085 per square foot (see voter pamphlet) with citizens' oversight and other applicable accountability measures? STATEMENT OF PURPOSES To provide local revenue that cannot be taken by the State and to maintain exceptional public education in our schools, the John Swett Unified School District proposes to levy and collect a qualified special parcel tax as described below (see "SPECIAL TAX AND PROCEDURES" below), and to implement accountability measures in connection with the special parcel tax to provide oversight and accountability to ensure that funds are used to: Preserve excellence in core academic programs such as reading, writing, science and math; Minimize class size increases in all grades and layoffs for dozens of highly qualified teachers and school employees; Continue teacher professional development by providing training programs and activities that support high quality teaching; Update computers and technology throughout schools and facilities; Help protect arts, after-school sports and music instruction, course offerings and electives that provide a well-rounded education, challenge students, allow students to be highly competitive for high school and provide instructional support for those struggling with the basics; Reduce the impact of deep budget cuts by providing a stable local funding source that cannot be taken away by the State or other school districts; and Protect the taxpayers' investment in education and ensure District accountability by providing for oversight and independent financial audits of revenues and expenditures. The Board of Education will utilize parcel tax proceeds for the purposes listed above, unless the Board of Education determines in any given year that changes in student population, fiscal constraints, or other changes in state or federal funding make doing so infeasible or inadvisable. In any event, the Board of Education will not fund any program or reduction other than those listed above from the proceeds of the special parcel taxes. SPECIAL TAX AND PROCEDURES Special Tax Generally. Subject to two-thirds approval of the voters, the special tax of $60 per parcel, except for industrial/commercial parcels which are levied at $0.0085 per square foot, shall be levied and collected for a period of four (4) years, commencing July 1, 2011, and be collected by the Contra Costa County Tax Collector at the same time as and along with, and shall be subject to the same penalties as general ad valorem taxes collected by said tax collector. Definition of Parcel. A parcel is defined as any unit of land in the District that receives a separate tax bill from the Contra Costa County Tax Collector, however, with respect to any parcel that is classified by the Contra Costa County Assessor as multi-family residential containing 5 or more units, such parcel shall constitute 5 parcels for the purposes of levying and collecting the special tax against such parcels, to the extent permitted by law. Exemptions. (1) All property that would otherwise be exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from the qualified special tax. (2) In addition, in order to provide tax relief to senior citizens in the community, any parcel owned and occupied as a principal residence by a person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the levy of the special tax upon proper application to the District. The exemption shall be available pursuant to procedures to be prescribed by the District or otherwise as required by law or by the Contra Costa County Tax Collector. Exclusive Procedures. The procedures described herein with respect to the levy and collection of the special tax and exemptions, and any additional procedures established by the Board of Education, shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or re-computation of the special parcel tax. Whether any particular claim is to be resolved by the District or by the County shall be determined by the District, in coordination with the County as necessary. The District's Board of Education may adopt such additional or supplemental procedures as it deems necessary or convenient for the administration of the qualified special tax. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the special parcel taxes levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) the specific purposes of the special parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the special parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above; (c) a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the special parcel taxes must be deposited; and (d) an annual written report shall be made to the Board of Education of the District showing (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the special taxes and (ii) the status of any projects, programs, or purposes required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the special taxes, as identified above. In addition to the accountability measures required by State law, an independent Community Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Education to advise the Board on the expenditures funded by the measure in order to ensure that said funds are spent for the purposes approved by the voters. The Community Oversight Committee will monitor the expenditures of these funds by the District and will report on an annual basis to the Board and community on how these funds have been spent. PROTECTION OF FUNDING Current law forbids any decrease in State or Federal funding to the District because of the District's adoption of a parcel tax. However, if any such funds are reduced because of the adoption of this parcel tax, then the amount of the special parcel taxes will be reduced annually as necessary in order to restore such State or Federal funding. SEVERABILITY The Board of Education of the District hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section, paragraph, sentence and clause of this measure has independent value, and the Board of Education and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this measure by the voters, should any part be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.